cyberjosh
Member
Without writing a narrative on Pauline theology, Paul speaks about how without the law no one knew was sin was, but that the law thus came in for a reason: to show the need for a Savior. But there is a catch, because for the creature to know it is sinful it must see its inability to be righteous, thus the purpose of the law: which causes men to sin. Yes you heard me right. Not as puppets but the law inexplicably draws (tempts) one to break it, as Paul said, "I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, "YOU SHALL NOT COVET" (Romans 7:7). But then in the next verse he says sin taking opportunity by the commandment decieved him and drew him into sinning because of the law. Also note what Paul says as to transgression and the law: "for where there is no law there is no transgression" (Romans 4:15). Luckily though God "overlooked the times of ignorance" (Acts 17:30). But the law served two purposes which are in fact one (but different aspects): (1) To increase our transgression (Romans 5:20) and thus (2) to point to Christ.
This 1st idea is no more repulsive than the statement, "For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all" (Romans 11:32) and the parallel passage "But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe" (Galatians 3:22). Paul said, "apart from the Law sin is dead" (Romans 7:8). Thus is makes supreme sense when Paul says, "The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more (Romans 5:20).
"Pure foolishness!" you might say. But I thank my God: "God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen" (1 Corinthians 1:27-28). Does even the Fall make earthly sense to man as part of God's redemption? No it does not, not to fleshly apprehension. Yet God used sin and the Fall to accomplish our redemption. This is the true paradox of redemption.
I shall conclude with this, to handle any concerns: "What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law" (Romans 7:7). The law is not sin nor sinful, but rather perfect & good (1 Timothy 1:8), and accounted for a righteousness we could not attain. It came in not to increase our righteousness for it is useless to save in such a way, but rather to increase sin to show the substance of sin "so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful" (Romans 7:13) and thus point to its remedy: Jesus Christ.
God Bless,
~Josh
This 1st idea is no more repulsive than the statement, "For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all" (Romans 11:32) and the parallel passage "But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe" (Galatians 3:22). Paul said, "apart from the Law sin is dead" (Romans 7:8). Thus is makes supreme sense when Paul says, "The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more (Romans 5:20).
"Pure foolishness!" you might say. But I thank my God: "God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen" (1 Corinthians 1:27-28). Does even the Fall make earthly sense to man as part of God's redemption? No it does not, not to fleshly apprehension. Yet God used sin and the Fall to accomplish our redemption. This is the true paradox of redemption.
I shall conclude with this, to handle any concerns: "What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law" (Romans 7:7). The law is not sin nor sinful, but rather perfect & good (1 Timothy 1:8), and accounted for a righteousness we could not attain. It came in not to increase our righteousness for it is useless to save in such a way, but rather to increase sin to show the substance of sin "so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful" (Romans 7:13) and thus point to its remedy: Jesus Christ.
God Bless,
~Josh